Why You Need To Be Budgeting For Sound Design On Your Next Production w/ Dallas Taylor Of Defacto Sound

Why You Need To Be Budgeting For Sound Design On Your Next Production w/ Dallas Taylor Of Defacto Sound

December 11, 2017

There are certain discoveries we all make in our filmmaking process that stand out as milestones and mark a new level of quality in our films. There are few level ups as drastic and impactful however, as incorporating professional-level sound design and music placement in our productions. As today’s guest explains, this an area of film production that truly separates the pros from the amateurs, and yet most of us (I’m guilty here, too) put off making this investment for way too long.

Dallas Taylor is the founder and lead sound designer of Defacto Sound, and is a respected thought leader on the narrative power of sound. He is also a sought-after speaker, a contributor to many industry publications and the host of the massively popular podcast, Twenty Thousand Hertz.

While Dallas is the guru of all things sound, he also gave us a lot of insight into the mindset behind running a successful business, the power of sound design within any project, and why giving yourself a break when it comes to your goals is imperative to finding balance. If you have ever felt stumped by how to start experimenting with sound design into your projects, Dallas has you covered.

Do you currently utilize sound design in your projects? If not, what is the main thing holding you back? If so, what have you noticed about your productions? Leave a comment below!

In this episode:

How to start thinking about and experimenting with sound design

The importance of time management and hiring accordingly

What to look for when hiring a sound designer

What types of projects should you be budgeting sound design for, and how should you budget for it?

Why you need to be ruthless in the curation of your portfolio

Quotes:

“Thinking about sound, in and of itself, outside of a music perspective, makes a huge difference in the way that you approach and the way that you tell a story.” (19:50)

“There is a big problem with people who expect that they’re going to put that camera up to their eye and that their masterpiece is going to come out. You have to make a bunch of garbage before you get anywhere close to anything that is even respectable, no matter how talented you are.” (32:45)

“You can’t control the result, all you can control is the process. All you can control is how you treat other people. And, the older I get the more I really try to cherish the people who are around me through that process and just be thankful for that. Then we put out the work and let the rest of the world decide all that stuff, but it doesn’t matter.” (34:41)